Elastic reinforcing cover for cartons

ABSTRACT

An elastic reinforcing cover is provided for a carton having a front panel, a back panel and two side panels being substantially at right angles, both side panels being substantially at right angles as to both the front panel and the back panel, The two side panels are generally parallel to one another and the front panel and the back panel are generally parallel to one another. A base is connected to the side panels and the front panel and the back panel. The base includes a slide resistant surface. The front panel, the back panel and the two side panels and the base are flexible and elastic. A strap is secured to and extends from the rear panel to the front panel, the strap and the front panel include a fastener to secure the strap to the to the front panel. The strap is located generally midway between the two side panels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to covers for cartons and, more specifically, to an elastic cover for cartons which hold nails or screws used at a construction site.

1. Prior Art

Various patents have dealt with the issue of covering a box or carton but none have been directed to reinforcing a box or carton to provide a stronger carton that will resist sliding, even on a sloping surface, as is proposed by the current invention. The prior art, which is most usually directed to gift wrapping and not to the strengthening of a carton, does not include a base to prevent sliding and also does not have an open top. A translucent material is also neither taught not used in the prior art.

One patent involving an inner box is the P. French Patent, U.S. Pat. No. 3,311,289 which teaches a wrap box to cover an inner box. The strap box is neither flexible nor translucent and does not include any provision to prevent sliding of the cover box.

The Stoll Patent, U.S. Pat. No. 3,658,240 uses a paper cover reinforced with cardboard. The cover is flexible but not elastic. No provision is made to prevent sliding and the cover is not translucent.

The J. A. French Patent, U.S. Pat. No. 5,529,395, teaches a reusable gift wrapping using a drawstring. The concept of stretching is taught but not to provide reinforcement. Neither a translucent material nor any prevention of sliding is taught.

The Kenyon Patent, U.S. Pat. No. 5,934,548 is a stretchable sleeve but includes no provision as to the prevention of sliding or being translucent.

The Anderson, et. al. Patent, U.S. Pat. No. 6,588,594 is not for gift wrapping but rather for sealing together a plurality of canned goods. The wrapping is somewhat transparent and undoubtedly translucent. The wrap is also flexible but is not elastic and has no provision to prevent sliding.

OBJECTS

The objects of this invention are to provide as follows:

1. A reinforcing cover for a carton.

2. A reinforcing cover for a carton that has a base which resists sliding.

3. A reinforcing cover for a carton that is elastic and flexible.

4. A reinforcing cover for a carton that is translucent.

5. A reinforcing cover for a carton that is durable, reusable and economical.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An elastic reinforcing cover is provided for a carton. The cover includes a front panel, a back panel and two side panels. A base which is connected to the side panels and the front panel and the back panel. The base includes a slide resistant surface. The front panel, the back panel and the two side panels and the base are flexible and elastic.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of the cover showing a box or carton to be covered in broken lines above the cover.

FIG. 2 is a pictorial view of the cover with a carton enclosed within the cover and with the strap over the lid of the carton.

FIG. 3 is a pictorial view looking up at the base of the cover.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged pictorial view of the base showing the slide resistant design of the base in greater detail. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE NUMERALS NUMERAL DESCRIPTON 11 Carton 13 Lid 15 Front Panel 17 Back Panel 19 Side Panels 21 Base 23 Top 25 Strap 27 Snap or Magnet 29 V-Shaped Grooves and Ridges

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The term “cover” as used herein means the Elastic Reinforcing Cover for Cartons.

Referring to FIG. 1, the cover is shown mounted on a carton 11. The carton 11 is a standard carton with a rectangular shape and having a lid 13 which is usually a flip-top lid 13. Nails and screws are normally sold in such cartons 11 which are notoriously incapable of holding their contents at a work site.

The cover is made from an elastic and flexible material, most generally a rubber compound that is durable and reasonable translucent and is sized to snugly and firmly cover the carton 11. The cover is placed about the carton 11 and is slightly stretched to accomplish a snug and tight fit. The cover is most specifically intended for use on a carton 11 containing nails or screws such as are used at a construction site. The cover has four sides, namely a front panel 15, a back panel 17 and two side panels 19 as well as a base 21. The front panel 15 and the back panel 17 are generally parallel to one another and the two sides 19 are generally parallel to one another. The two side panels 19 are located generally at right angles to the front panel 15 and to the back panel 17. The top 23, which is generally parallel to the base, is left open except for a strap 25 used to hold the lid 13 of the carton 11 closed when the contents of the carton 11 are not being used. The strap 25 is affixed to the back panel 17 of the cover (FIG. 2 and FIG. 3) and extends across the lid 13 of the carton from the back panel 17 where the strap 25 is secured to the front panel 15 of the cover and further extends downwardly onto the front panel 15 of the cover. The strap 25 is located generally midway between the two side panels 19. In this way, the strap 25 retains the lid 13 of the carton 11 in a closed position when the contents of the carton 11 are not being used. A snap or magnet 27 may be used to secure the strap 25 to the front panel 15 of the cover.

Besides strengthening cartons 11 used to hold nails and screws, the cover provides adhesion to surfaces, including sloping surfaces such as a roof, on which the carton 11 when encased by the cover may be placed. This permits the carton 11 when encased within the cover to be used on a surface such as a roof without sliding and without having the carton 11 collapse. To prevent sliding, the base 21 is constructed to be slide resistant. To this end, a plurality of V-shaped grooves and ridges 29 are provided. One set of V-shaped grooves and ridges 29 extend from the front panel 15 to the back panel 17 while another set extend from the side panels 19 to side panels 19. Since both sets of V-shaped grooves and ridges 29 are in the same plane, they cross each other at right angles creating a cross-hatched configuration as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. Other slide resistant designs for the base are possible but a base 21 with a high resistance to sliding is essential for the base 21.

Preferably, the rubber compound used for the cover is sufficiently translucent to permit reading of any description of the contents that is located on the carton 11. The cover is sufficiently thin that a translucent condition is possible. However, since normally the contents is also printed on the lid 13 of the carton 11, the translucent quality is not absolutely essential but it is highly desirable and is preferred.

It is to be understood that the drawings and description matter are in all cases to be interpreted as merely illustrative of the principles of the invention, rather than as limiting the same in any way, since it is contemplated that various elements exist to achieve like results without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims. 

1. An elastic reinforcing cover for a carton comprising: a front panel, a back panel and two side panels; and a base connected to the side panels and the front panel and the back panel, the base including a slide resistant surface, the front panel, the back panel and the two side panels and the base being flexible and elastic.
 2. An elastic reinforcing cover according to claim 1 further including a strap secured to the rear panel and extending to the front panel and means for fastening the strap to the front panel.
 3. An elastic reinforcing cover according to claim 1 wherein the side panels are substantially at right angles to both the front panel and the back panel.
 4. An elastic reinforcing cover according to claim 1 wherein the side panels are substantially at right angles to both the front panel and the back panel and the side panels are generally parallel to one another and the front panel and the back panel are generally parallel to one another.
 5. An elastic reinforcing cover according to claim 1 wherein the cover is translucent.
 6. An elastic reinforcing cover for a carton comprising: a front panel, a back panel and two side panels being substantially at right angles, both side panels being substantially at right angles as to both the front panel an the back panel, the two side panels being generally parallel to one another and the front panel and the back panel being generally parallel to one another; a base connected to the side panels and the front panel and the back panel, the base including a slide resistant surface, the front panel, the back panel and the two side panels and the base being flexible and elastic; a strap secured to and extending from the rear panel to the front panel, the strap and the front panel including a fastener to secure the strap to the to the front panel, the strap being located generally midway between the two side panels.
 7. An elastic reinforcing cover according to claim 6 wherein the cover is translucent.
 8. An elastic reinforcing cover for a carton comprising: a front panel, a back panel, both side panels being substantially at right angles to both the front panel and the back panel, the two side panels being generally parallel to one another and the front panel and the back panel being substantially parallel to one another; a base connected to the side panels and to the front panel and the back panel, the base including a plurality of generally parallel grooves and ridges extending from side panel to side panel and a plurality of grooves and ridges extending from the front panel to the back panel, the front panel, the back panel and the two side panels and the base being flexible and elastic; and a strap secured to and extending from the back panel remote from the base, the strap and the front panel including a fastener to secure the strap to the front panel, the strap being located generally midway between the two side panels. 